Transportation Soldiers receive spurs from Cavalry Squadron

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers with the 319th Transportation Company, 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), receive their cavalry spurs from the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 224th Sust. Bde., recently at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. (Photo by: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Caleb Waldron)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

12.17.2010

Courtesy Story

224th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — Soldiers with the Convoy Escort Team of 1st Platoon, 319th Transportation Company, 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), received cavalry spurs from the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 224th Sust. Bde., recently at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.

The 319th Trans. Co. made history as the first transporters to receive cavalry spurs during Operation New Dawn.

They had recently started conducting internal Convoy Escort Team missions for logistical convoys, which are normally conducted by combat arms units. The beginning of Operation New Dawn, marked by the cease of combat operations and the large withdrawal of forces and equipment, has created a need for combat support units to become increasingly self-sufficient.

“This is a first for a transportation unit,” said 1st Lt. Jonathen Turner, platoon leader and spurs recipient with the 319th Trans. Co., and a Pittsburgh native. “In the future, we may see this type of transformation with future deploying combat support units.”

The U.S. cavalry has a long and proud history serving as the designated mounted force of the U.S. Army.

The cavalry has served in every war dating back to the Revolutionary War. The primary roles of the cavalry has always been reconnaissance, security, and mounted assault. The traditions of the cavalry originated with the horse-mounted force; the last horse-mounted cavalry charge was completed by the 26th Cavalry Regiment of the Philippine Scouts Jan. 16, 1942, on the Bataan Peninsula, Philippines. Since the Vietnam War, the cavalry has seen the introduction of helicopters (air cavalry) and mechanized cavalry (armored cavalry).

“I’m really proud of everyone here,” said Sgt. Reynaldo Maldonado, CET non-commissioned officer-in-charge and spurs recipient with the 319th Trans. Co., and a Tampa, Fla., native. “They’re outstanding out there on the road. It’s like we’ve been conducting this mission since day one.”

Staff Sgt. John Young, platoon sergeant with the 319th Trans. Co., and a Cleveland native, also said that he was proud of his soldiers’ accomplishments.

“It’s good to see my soldiers getting recognized by the 2-108th Cav. [Regt.],” said Young. “It lets them know they’re doing an excellent job.”

• Date Taken: 12.17.2010
• Date Posted: 12.26.2010 08:03
• Story ID: 62621
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ